Cover and can handling device



June 2, 1942. w. s. CAMPBELL 2,285,187

CQVER AND CAN HANDLING DEVICE Filed Nov. 13, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 8987 86 80 a2 se, 64 68 03 6367 /6 3796 8. A I wu.

'June 2, 1942. w. s. CAMPBELL 2,285,187

4COVER AND CAN HANDLING DEVICE Filed Nov; 13, 1940 s sheets-sheet 2 @meg v June 2, 1942. w. s. CAMPBELL. 2,285,187

COVER AND CAN HANDLING DEVICE Filed Nov. 15, 194C 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Wim;

Patented June 2, 1942 COVERv AND CAN HANDLING DEVICE Willard S. Campbell, Hampshire, Ill., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to Cherry-Burrell Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Del- Applicatio November 1s, 1940, serial No. 365,435

3 claims.

My invention relates to a construction for properly timing the receiving, passing through and discharging of a can and its cover. V

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a construction which receives a can and its cover, passes them through the machine one above the other, and discharges them together. This prevents confusing covers with cans with which they do not belong and insures that the can will receive its cover and no other cover. This is extremely important where cans and covers of many different concerns are involved.

Myconstruction provides a single cover for each can and a single can for each covenand prevents a situationwhere there-would be several cans for each cover, or several-covers for each can.

In my construction the cover proceedsV from the entrance through the greater portion of the machine in vertical position and then assumes a horizontal position adjacent the exit so as to be dropped onto the can. Means is provided so that the covers are firmly positioned on the cans when they are discharged, thereby preventing exposure of the interiors ofthe covers and cans to bacteria and contamination from the atmosphere.

My construction is simple and eliminates complicated machinery. It operates more silently, avoiding all unnecessary noise. Those portions of the construction that receive and discharge the covers are can operated-that is to say, the cover movements are initiated and controlled by the movements of the cans in the can handling portion of the construction.

My construction involves such other objects, advantages and capabilities as will` later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by' my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawings a preferred form of my invention, yet I desire it understood that the. same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of-myinvention.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view broken Vin two-portions Ato emphasize the entrance and exit portions of the device; Fig. 2. isan end elevational View on line 2 2 of Fig. l, showing in detail the exit portion of the device; Fig. 3 vis anenlarged detail plan View showing the construction for the turning of the cover from `vertical to horizontal position; Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan view of the mechanism on the lower, level; Fig. `5 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig.

4; Fig. 6 is a side elevational `view showing they upper and, lower levels with the connection therebetweenfat-the entrance portion of the device; Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail view of the stop lever mechanism on the upperlevel; Fig. 8 is a detail perspective View of the rack. y

The embodiment selected to illustrate my invention is ordinarily associated withV a straightaway Washer, sterilizervand drier, but I am primarily concerned withthe entrance, passage and discharge of cans and covers and not with their treatment during the passage.

Said embodiment comprises a frame IU with spaced side walls II forming an interior I2 with an open entrance I3 and an open exit I4 to respectively receive and discharge the cans and covers. A support or track I5 attached to the frame I D is provided in the lower portion or level and extends substantially the length of the interior I2; Another support or track I6 attached to the frame I is provided in the upper portion or level above the support I5 and extends substantially the length of the interior. The cans are received, carried through and discharged on thel lower level and the covers on the upper level.

Adjacent the' entrance I3 at the lower level, bearings Il are attached to side walls I I. Y A rotatable shaft I 8 extends between bearings I l. Spaced sprockets I ifare mounted on shaft I 8. spaced main chains 2Q engage sprockets IB and turn shaft I 8. The main chains extend through the interior I2 of the machine on the lower level track I5 to sprockets 2l attached to shaft 22 rotatable in bearings 23 in bracket 24 which is attached to frame ID. Attached to and driving the shaft 22 is a pulley 25 driven in turn by a belt 26 connected to and driven by a source of power.

Also mounted on shaft I8 and to one side of sprockets I9 is drive sprocket 21. Positioned ahead of bearings I'I and in the side walls II is another pair of spaced bearings 28 to rotatably receive another shaft 29.` Chain `30 extends between drive sprocket 21 and driven sprocket 3I mounted on shaft 29. Drive sprocket 21 has twice as many teeth as driven sprocket 3|. Driven shaft 29 rotates twice as fast as drive shaft I8.

Mounted on shaft Zil'is sprocket 32'centrally positioned laterally with respect to spaced sprockets Sprocket 32 drives chain 33 which extends toward entrance I3 `to engage idlery sprocket 3.4 which is rotatably mounted on -a stud 35 which `is attached to bracket 36 which is a part of platform 3l. The platform 31 is hingedly attached to track I5. Mounted on chain 33 is al plurality of spaced counter-balanced lugs .38.

Mounted on main chains is a plurality of spaced dogs 39.

Attached to the frame I9 and extending inwardly between shafts I8 and 29 is a support 4I). A rod 4| is rotatably attached to support 48. Attached to the inner end of rod 4| and adjacent the outer main chains 28 is a trip lever 42 normally in upright position. Attached to the outer end of rod 4I is another lever or arm 43. A connecting member 44 is attached on one end to arm 43. The connecting member 44 extends upwardly and its other end is attached to one end of a short chain 45. The other end of the short chain 45 is attached to spring 46 which in turn is attached to a hook 41 which is attached to the frame I9. The tension of spring 46 holds short chain 45 in engagement with sprocket 48. This sprocket 48 is attached to shaft 49 which is rotatably attached to bracket 58 attached to frame I9. A lever 5| normally in upright position is attached to the shaft 49 adjacent its inner end. Another lever 52 is centrally pivoted to guide 53 which extends diagonally downwardly through entrance I3 into the upper level of the interior I2. Said lever 52 has a slot 54 in its forward portion to slidably receive pin 55 attached to lever 5|. When lever 5| is moved downwardly to a horizontal position pin 55 slides to the rear of slot 54 and pivots lever 52 from a horizontal to a vertical plane so that the rear portion 56 of lever 52 forms a stop.

The inner endV of guide 53 within the upper level of interior I2 is pivotally and adjustably attached to upper track I6. An upper chain 51 travels on upper track I6 between drive sprocket 9 58 and idler sprocket 59. Idler sprocket 59 is attached to shaft 60 rotatable in bearings 6| attached to frame I8.

Drive sprocketl 58 is attached to shaft 62 rotatable on bearings 6| attached to frame I Il and driven by gear wheel 63 through a chain 64 connected to a suitable source of power.

Also mounted on drive shaft 62 is a drive sprocket 65. A chain 66 extends between drive sprocket and driven sprocket 61 attached to driven shaft 68 rotatably attached to bearings 69 on frame IIJ. Spaced sprockets 10 are also mounted Von driven shaft 68. Spaced light chains 1I extend forwardly between sprockets 18 and idler sprockets 12 mounted on shaft 13 rotatably attached to bearings 14 supported by bracket 15 attached to frame IIJ. Drive sprocket 65 has twice as many teeth as driven sprocket 61 and light chains 1| travel twice as fast as chain 66. A track 16 attached to frame I8 is provided for light chains 1|. Track 16 extends on a downward curve through the exit I4 toward a rack 11, the inner end of which is pivotally and adjustably attached to shaft 13 which rotates on bearings 14 attached to frame I0.

A shaft 89 is rotatably attached to bearings 8| in the frame I0 adjacent the top of the upper level of the interior I2. Mounted on said shaft 88 is an eccentric cam 82. A lever 83 is mounted on shaft 84 which is rotatably attached to bearings 85 in frame I9. Fastened to shaft 84 is a positioner 86. The positioner 86 has a diagonally downwardly extending portion 81 and an integral vertical portion 88 to which is adjustably attached a horizontal member 89.

Rotatably attached to frame I!) is a vertical rod 90 having a horizontal bottom portion 9|. Adjacent the top of rod 96 is a stop 92 positioned to engagevstop 93 on shaft 84. A spring |82 extends between frame I9 and horizontal portion 9| of rod 90.

Shaft 80 has a sprocket 94 operated by chain 95 connected to a suitable source of power.

A plurality of guide rails 96, 91 and 98 extends from the entrance I3 at the upper level along upper track I6. Guide rails 96 and 91 are positioned along the inner side of the track I6. Guide rail 98 is positioned along the opposite or outerv side of the track at medium height, with guide rail 91 positioned higher than guide rail 96 and guide rail 98 positioned lower than guide rail 91. At approximately the farthest point where the track 16 and light chains 1| extend within the interior I2, guide rail 91 ends in a downward and inward curve 99. Guide rail 95 ends short of 91, and 98 continues to any further desired point within interior I2 and is shown as ending short of exit I4. The guide rails are attached to frame I9 by any suitable means.

In use an operator places a can through the lower level of entrance I3 in inverted position on platform 31. A counterbalanced lug 38 on chain 33 contacts the can on the inside neck portion and moves it at double speed to main chains 29.

At about the same time as the operator places the can on platform 31 he places the cover in vertical position through the upper level of entrance I3 on guide 53 and the cover rolls on its edge rapidly down the inclined guide until it contacts lever 5I which is normally in upright position. The cover remains in this position until it is released for further movement by operation of the can, as will now be fully set forth.

While the movement of the cover is stopped by lever 5| the outer back of the neck of the can is contacted by one of the dogs 39 on main chains 28 and moved thereon. As the can moves within the interior I2 it contacts'trip lever 42 which is normally in upright position and moves it to a horizontal position. This rotates rod 4I and pulls arm 43 downwardly, also pulling connecting member 44 and moving short chain 45. This movement of short chain 45 moves sprocket 48, rotatable shaft 49 and finally lever 5|. The movement of lever 5| is to a horizontal plane, removing it as a stop against the cover and permitting the cover to move onto upper chain 51. When lever 5| moves to a horizontal position, second lever 52 is pivoted so that its rear portion 56 assumes a vertical position, acting as a stop to prevent any more covers from passing. Otherwise more than one cover might go through to upper chain 51 while lever 5I is in horizontal non-stopping position.

When the can passes by the lever 42 and no longer contacts the same, spring 46 moves trip lever back to normal upright position by pulling the connecting member 44 and arm 43 upwardly. Spring 46 also pulls chain 45 in the other direction, moving sprocket 48 and its rotatable shaft 49. Lever 5I then returns to normal upright position and second lever 52 to normal horizontal position. Any second cover prevented further entrance by rear portion 56 of second lever 52 is stopped from further progress by the now upright lever 5I.

The cans and covers continue their progress within the interior I2, with the cans travelling on the chains 26 of the lower level track I5 and the covers moving above their respective cans on chain 51 of the upper level track I6. There are spaced dogs |03 on chain 51.

At the end of main chains 20 a turning device |88 is provided so that the cans may be turned venting contamination.

In order that the @over will te in position in Y time to be placed onto its respective can, the cover when it reaches the end of guide rail 96 is directed by curve 99 to fall `by gravity in a horizontal positionl onto light chains 1I. The

` light chains travelling with double speed move the cover so that it falls into rack 1l in plenty of time for its can which is about to be deposited on platform IUI below in upright position from turning device |80. Positioner 86 in its lower position over rack 'Il prevents the cover from leaving the rack 11 too soon. As the can passes to platform IUI the can swings horizontal bottom portion 9| of vertical rod 90, and stop 92 of said rod is released from engagement with stop 93 of shaft 84, allowing lever'83 to come in contact with cam 82, thereby raising positioner 88 above rack 'l1 and releasing the cover so that it falls onto the open mouth of the waiting can on platform IUI. Further in the cycle of cam 82, lever 83 is again contacted to raise and then lower positioner 86 against the cover, pressing the cover against the can, thereby sealing it and pre- When the can has passed on or been otherwise removed from platform IUI, spring |02 moves rod 98 to normal position with its stop 92 engaging stop 93 of the shaft 84 so that lever 82 is out of position for engagement with cam 82. Positioner 86 is then in its lower position over rack 11.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame l having an entrance, a lower level track attached to and within said frame and having a conveyer chain mounted thereon, said combined track and chain being adapted to receive and carry cans, an upper level Vtrack attached to and within said frame and having a conveyer chain mounted thereon, said combined track and chain being adapted to receive andcarry can covers, a lower lever movably attached to said frame adjacent the lower level track, an upper lever movably attached to said frame adjacent said upper level track, said upper lever normally in upright position to prevent the passage of a cover thereby, a connecting member extending between said levers, said lower lever normally in upright position and adapted upon being contacted by a can passing on said lower level track to move to horizontal position and through said connecting member to move said upper lever to horizontal position to permit acover to pass thereby, and a spring attached to said connecting member and said frame and adapted upon the can passing said lower lever and releasing contact thereon to move said connecting member to return said lower lever to upright position and to also return said upper lever to upright position to prevent another cover from passing thereby.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame having an entrance, a lower level track attached to and within said frame, a power operated lower level chain operable on said track and adapted to receive andcarry cans, an upper level track at- Y tached to and within said frame, a powerv operated upper level chain operable on said track and adapted to receive and carry can covers, a lower lever movably attached to said frame adjacent the lower level chain, an upper lever movably attached to said frame adjacent said upper level chain, said upper lever normally in upright position to prevent the passage of a cover thereby, a connecting member extending between said levers, said lower lever normally in upright position and adapted upon being contacted by a can passing on said lower lever chain to move to horizontal position and through said connecting member to move said upper lever to horizontal position to permit a cover to pass thereby, and a spring attached to said connecting member*V and said frame and adapted upon the can passing thereby and releasing contact thereon to move said connecting member to return said lower lever to upright position and to also return said upper lever to upright position to prevent another cover from passing thereby.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame A having an entrance, a power operated double speed chain movably attached to said frame and extending from the entrance a short distance into the interior of the device at the lower level thereof, a lower level track attached to said frame and leading from the inner end of the double speed chain farther into the interior of the device, a power operated lower level main chain operable upon said lower level track, said Y double speed chain and said lower level chain y adapted' to receive and carry cans, a guide leading from the exterior of the device and extending diagonally downwardly through the entrance a short distance into the interior of the device at the upper level thereof, an upper level track attached tosaid frame and leading from the inner end of said guide farther into the interior of the device, a power operated upper level chain operable upon said upper level track, said guide and said upper level chain adapted to receive and carry covers, a lower lever movably attached to said frame adjacent the beginning of the lower level main chain, an upper lever lmovably attached to said frame adjacent the beginning of the upper level chain, a third lever pivotally attached Yto said guide and to said upper lever, a connecting member extending between said lower and upper levers, said lower lever normally in upright position and adapted upon being contacted by a can passing on said lower level main track to move to horizontal position and through said connecting member'` to move said upper lever to horizontal position to permit a cover to pass thereby, said upper lever moving said third lever to upright position to prevent the passage thereby of any more covers, and a spring attached to said connecting member and said frame and adapted upon the can passing said lower lever and releasing contact thereon to move said connecting member to return said lower lever to upright position, to return said upper lever to upright position and to return `said third lever to horizontal position to pre- 

